Google Introduces Android L

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Google has released its new flavour of android named as “Android L” on this year’s Google I/O Conference.

The newer version definitely packs up some major improvements, that is visually and some under the hood goodies which includes New UI, better performance, better graphics, better integration with other devices, transition effects, animations, ART Runtime, battery life, notifications etc.

New UI “Material Design”

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Google finally has realized that their Holo-Theme UI is getting pretty boring and they need to come up with some thing new, the Android L brings new looks to its interface which is more flatter, colorful, minimalistic and simple.

This new design is called “Material Design” and we definitely had a little hint about this new UI from Google. Material design packs up new Roboto font and some new animations that offer easier transitions between apps, in addition to making the end user experience a whole lot more enjoyable than ever before.

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Even the soft-keys button design have been changed.

Recent apps menu has been revamped and now shows cards that show what recently opened apps were with the content also being displayed in the cards and would also show the chrome tabs in the same recent menu.

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Better Notifications

Google stressed upon the notifications a lot this time. They’ve revamped the notification system and changed the way of interaction with notifications.

The enhanced notifications system now shows the most important ones on top and hides ones that are not top-priority. The notifications will now pop up on an open application so that you can interact with it without opening the notification bar.

The lock screen will feature a range of notifications that can interacted by different gestures and tapping. Plus notifications will now appear on top of an opened app.

Notification

Better Search System

Search is now more integrated with the device as the Android L will bring additional improvements like, Google emphasized their ‘rediscovery’ feature, meaning that Google Search will now show you search-results on the basis of what you’ve searched before. It means that the search would actually learn your interests and on the basis of those it would give you further search results.

Navigation result would also be affected accordingly.

Integration and Pairing with Other Devices

With Android L you’ll get better integration between your phone and smart-watch. Plus another really interesting feature is also introduced by Google, which is that whenever your phone detects your smart watch near it, the phone will automatically unlock itself rather than asking you to enter the whole code again.

The devices would build smart connection between devices (that run on Android) which would allow for seamless transition between form factors. This means that the game you were playing on your Android L-based smartphone or tablet will be seamlessly available for play on your Android TV or perhaps even your Chromebook.

Android L has ART Runtime plus it’s 64-Bit ready Now

ART runtime was initially introduced in Kit Kat as an optional runtime in Developers options. But with Android L Google is officially making its transition to the ART runtime and would replace the aging Dalvikruntime.

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In general the ART is more efficient over Dalvik and would boost performance because ART will bring (Ahead-Of-Time) execution of apps, while Dalvik uses JIT (Just-In-Time), meaning that code is executed when you start the app. On the bit of dark side of the ART It would require more space for apps.

ART is entirely 64-bit, so it can take advantage of new apps written from the ground-up for 64-bit processing architecture. It will also allow much larger RAM memory to be installed on newer devices, So future High-end phones will sport 3 GB of RAM or more.

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Project Volta and Battery Saver mode

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A simple rule applies in the battery life “The more you use the more you loose” but by handling the power eating various subsystem of device the battery life could be increased.

Google has introduced Project Volta which aims to increase battery life by handling WiFi, GPS etc. Another feature is added which is called Battery historian. It gives a detailed history of when the battery was drained and what exactly caused the battery depletion to help developers identify features that affect battery life too much. So expect Android Apps to be more battery efficient now.

With the android L the Google is also introducing a better battery saving mode which would have an energy-efficient mode which simply limits your handset’s performance by lowering processor clockspeed and the display’s refresh rate.

According to Google, a Nexus 5 gets extra 1.5 hours of on-screen battery life with the new battery saving mode on.

Screens from Android L

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    • Really? Seems like Google copied Microsoft once again and made it look worse. Dat color palette. Did they design it with 5 year olds in mind? Cause anybody else would have to be insane to go out with a phone having a UI like that.

  • Great changes. Hope battery thing works this time. I really get annoyed by the shorter battery life. Eagerly waiting for it!

  • okay google.. now this is a step for making Android better and best.. it be cool

        • LOL, you wish. Apple copies everything, even it’s name and logo:

          Panorama + Folders = Android
          Notification Bar = Maemo
          The name “Apple” = The Beatles
          Slide to Unlock = Neonode N1m
          Mouse GUI = Xerox
          Reject calls with SMS = Symbian
          iMaps = Google Maps (Opps)
          Fingerprint sensor (Cracked) = PCs (Safe)
          Multitasking = webOS
          Copy/paste = WinMobile
          Ping = Facebook, Twitter
          iPad = Samsung´s Photoframe
          iPad Mini = Dell Streak
          iPod = Creative Technology and Walkman
          ‘iPhone’ the name = Linksys’ iPhone®
          ‘iOS’ the name = Cisco’s Internet OS (ios)
          Original iPhone = Samsung’s S700 Mp3 Player
          iPhone 4 & 4S = LG’s Prada
          iPhone 5c = Lumia 620
          Pinch to zoom = Samsung
          iMessage = BlackBerry Messenger
          iCloud = Dropbox + Onedrive
          iOS Minimalistic = Windows Phone.
          Smartphone Optical Stabilization = Nokia
          Siri (Clippy) = Xiaoi Bot + Nuance
          App Store = Ubuntu Software Center
          Multitouch Smartphone = Bought another company
          Bigger Screen smartphone = Everybody else
          MacBook Air = HP’s Sojourn
          Macsafe = Asian Crockery
          Thunderbolt = Intel
          OSX, iOS = Unix
          Newton = Psion Series 3, HP 95LX
          Apple Logo = Genesis 1:6, 3:6
          Aluminum = Cheapest Metal
          Plastic = ($$$ Reinforced Polymers)
          Security = Buy a new one…

          Steve Jobs’ own words:
          “We have been ‘ShameLESS’ about stealing great ideas”.

          • You are mad and too much obsessed with this, non of 90% of these make sense there’s huge difference in these products comparisons and Apple Products

  • So this is what, Google’s fourth attempt and changing how Android looks? What makes them think they’ll be successful this time when the previous three times they have failed. Most OEMs have their own GUI overlay anyway: HTC Sense, Samsung Touch Wiz etc. So just like before, we’ll probably never see in action either. And what’s the point? Next year they will reveal another new look.

  • I am already using all these features with Andriod JellyBean.. So whats new here..???

  • 1. The UI looks pretty much boring.. Windows and iPhone looks more juicy compared to Andriod L
    2. Notifications are not transparent and should follow the timeline instead of priority.. (Far better in JellyBean and KitKat)
    3. Nothing new in search system.. (JB and KK already doing it..)
    4. My sony Xperia L with JB is already having this feature under MHL (it integrates and pair with the devices smartly & wireless)
    5. “ART”, this is an upgrade.. nothing new…!
    6. All these battery saving features are fully packed inside JB and KK (nothing new)
    7. Screens from Androind JB and KK surely look better than Android L..

    Conclusion:
    As per my analysis, Google isn’t into advancement this time. It seems they are introducing new flavors of operating systems so people could have variety. It would them help maintain monopoly under the Andriod Platform (pretty smart approach).. :)

    • This is why they say “haters gonna hate”

      even ART is nothing new?
      keep in mind. no more dalvik, ART is only runtime now. this changes nothing?

      Some just hate the change.

      • I don’t hate it at all.. In fact there are up-gradations and no change at all.. ART has just boosted the performance, nothing more.. They introduced it in KK as well (so what’s the difference??)..

    • hahahha what a lame statement, This made me laugh, you don’t know anything about iOS or other OS.. and their user base.

  • Google should support Urdu in Google Now or atleast Pakistani accent.What’s new in Android L? They says all those things before every new version, improved battery life, notification system, better UI…etc etc.

  • Huge volume of new features of

    64-bit trusted execution environment

    Activity transitions

    ART [the new app execution environment]

    audio patch panel

    Battery historian

    Battery Saver mode

    BLE central & peripheral modes [Fixing the Android-to-wearables equation]

    Bluetooth 4.1

    Burst-mode camera APIs

    CardView

    Cast receiver [Android TV and Chromecast related]

    Closed caption

    Color extractor

    Color inversion

    Color space correction

    Do not disturb

    Document-centric multi-tasking [Interesting …]

    Enterprise

    H.265 [a new format especially for 4K video]

    hardware-assisted hot-word [voice control related]

    Heads-up notifications

    HFP 1.6 SAP [A Bluetooth profile for cars]

    improved AV sync

    Improved battery stats, predicted time remaining

    Improved game controller support

    Improved text rendering

    JobScheduler

    Lock to app APIs

    Lockscreen notifications

    Low latency audio recording

    Map Email [That’s probably MAPI, which is Microsoft Outlook email]

    Material theme

    multi HFP [So you can have Android in the car *and* a BT headset]

    Multi-network

    NDK media APIs

    New quick settings

    OpenGL ES 3.1 & Android Extension Pack

    Path animations

    Personal unlocking

    Phone rotation lock

    RecyclerView

    Time on lock screen

    Time to charge

    TV input framework [key for Android TV]

    USB audio

    View elevation

    View shadows

    Volte [Voice-over-LTE, a new voice system cell-phone carriers are rolling out]


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